Washing machine



- 1935- M. L. KELLY I 2,925,592"

Y WASHING MACHINE Filed may 29, 1950 2 'Sheets-Sheefl I pvmvvron,

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims. (01.141 4) This invention relates to a washing machine primarily adapted for thewashing and rinsing of dishes or the like.

It is primarily aimed to provide a construction g wherein washing and rinsing may take place within the same chamber or tank without admixture of the washing and rinsing fluids or loss of any of the washing fluid.

Another object is to provide a construction- 10 whereby a novel means is employed/above the washing fluid for movement to different positions to properly direct the flow of the fluids used, ac-

cording to whether the same is a washing fluid or a rinsing fluid.

l5 Another object is to provide means whereb y the "fluid-directing or controlling meansis actuated through actuation of the control valves used for the, washing and rinsing fluids. a 1

Various additional objects andadvantages will 20 become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating one exemplary embodiment.

In said drawings:-- 25 Figure 1 is a view of the machine partly in end elevation and partly in section; Figure 2 is a view of the machine, partly in side elevation and, partly in longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation to par- 30 ticularly show the operating mechanism for the tilting plate;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line L-d of Figurei; I Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional 35 detail illustrating the mounting oi thestrainer trap for the washing fluid, and

a Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mounting rod for the tilting plate.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein 40 like reference characters designate like or similar parts, I indicates a conventional stand which supports a washing tank or receptacle H on which is surmounted a hood l2. Said hood I2 is 'iopen at opposite ends at IS in order that trays I4 45 adapted to contain the dishes l or other articles to be washed, may be freely inserted and removed, such tray being of skeleton or conventional form. The sides of the tank ll adjacent the top, are extended outwardly at portions l6 and the hood 50 -12 has flanges l1 directly engaging the upper ends of the wall portions l6 which are secured thereto in any suitable manner. Suitably fastened within the hood to the flanges l1 and against side wall portions l8, are angles I 9 which serve 55 as tracks along which the trays or baskets M are adapted to be pushed or pulled. The end portions 20 of'the tracks l9 preferably incline upwardly, as shown in. Figure 2, and the bottom walls 2| ofthe extensions 22 atthe openings l3, also, preferably, incline upwardly at the same 5 angle.

The tank II is adapted to contain a suitable washing fluid, usually water, having chemicals or detergents therein, and such washing fluid is adapted to be withdrawn from the tank through a pipe 23 in communication with the tank ll, through the action of a pump 24' with which said pipe communicates and which pump is supported, for example, on a shelf 25 forming part of the stand l2. The pump 24 maybe operated from any suitable source of power and usually, is operated by an electric motor 26 which may be coupled to the shaft 21 of the pump 24 and sup: ported on the said shelf 25. The pump discharges the water with admixed chemicals or detergents through a pipe 28, which is preferably vertically arranged. Extending laterally from the pipe 28, are manifolds 29 and 30, the former extending into the hood I2 above the basket H and the latter extending into thetank below the 26 basket I4. Projecting horizontally from the manifolds 29 and 30, are d stributing pipes 3| and 32, respectively, the former having discharge orifices 33 in the lower portion thereof, and the latter having discharge orifices 34 in the upper portion thereof, whereby the washing fluid is pro- ,lected onto the dishes I! bothfrom above and from below.

At the base of one of the wall portions l6, within the tank il, a foraminous or strainer 35 tray 35 is removably disposed, resting, in instance, on lugs 36 integral with the tank II and at its ends resting on inclined surfaces 31- and lugs 38 also integral with the tank I I. During the dischargeof washing fluid onto the dishes, 40 IS, a tray or plate 39 is tilted so as to rest on the inner edge of the tray 35 and as a result, the falling washing fluid strikes the tray 39, which'is imperforate, and flows into the strainer 35, which removes solid particles therefrom, the detergent returning to the supply in the tank ll, throughv the perforations of the tray or strainer 35, so that it may be again pumped onto the dishes, in a continuous cycle of operation.

The plate or tray 39 is carried by a rock shaft 40 which may be square as at ll throughoutthe major portion of its length. Cleats 42 may surround the squared portion ll of the rock shaft and be secured to the plate 39 in order to rigidly fasten it to the rock shaft.

At opposite ends,

plate or tray 39 may have upstanding flanges 43 to prevent fluid from overflowing adjacent edges thereof. Through actuation of the rock shaft 49, the plate or tray 39 maybe moved from engagement with the tray 35 into engagement with a trough 44, in which position it is disposed at the opposite inclination to that which it assumes when engaging tray 35, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. Trough 44 is in communication with a drain pipe 45 which extends to one end of the tank ll, thence under such tank and leading to a sewer or other point of discharge. A vertical pipe 46 rises from the pipe 45 and extends through a water-tight connection 41 into the tank Ii. Pipe'46 is open at the top and constitutes an overflow or scum-removing means with grespect to the washing fluid.

The pipe 23 has valves 49 and 49 located therein, one of which is adapted to be open while the other is closed, and vice versa. The upper end of pipe 29 communicates with a source of rinsing water supply, which may be a city service line of water or otherwise. When the valve 49 is open, rinsing water as it cannot pass the valve 49,. will discharge through the orifices 33 and 34 in order to rinse the dishes, and will fall onto the plate 39 and flow into the trough 44 and from the same discharge through pipe 45 into the sewer or the like. However, when the valve 49 is closed, the valve 43 is open, and the pump 24, which was inactive during the rinsing operation, will pump washing fluid from the tank ll through the various pipes and discharge the same through ports 33 and 34 against the dishes. During the washing operation, the plate 39-will be inclined opposite to the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 and hence, will cause the washing fluid to flow through the-strainer 35 and return to the tank.

Valve 49 is manually operated by a handle 59. A similar handle 5] controls valve 49. A pitman 32 is pivoted to both valve handles 50 and 5|. The operation of the valves 50 and 5| causes simultaneous operation or shifting oi. the plate 39 so that the latter will be at the proper angle to discharge into tray 35 or trough 44 according to whether or not washingfluid or rinsing water. respectively, is flowing. To this end, rock shaft has trimnions 53 at its ends which are suitably iournaled in the end walls of the tank in a manner to permit removal of the rock shaft, when desired, and a crank 54 is removably and rigidly iastened to one of the trunnions 53 outside of said tank II. A pitman 55 is pivoted at 59 to crank 54 and is pivoted at 51 to the handle 5|.

To briefly recapitulate, with the parts shown as in Figure 1, valve 49 is closed and valve 49' is 1 open and motor 26 is not in operation. Accordingly, rinsing water flows through pipe 29, manii'olds 29 and 30 and pipes 3| and 32, discharging upwardly and downwardly against the dishes I9 through the orifices 33 and 34. The falling water strikes plate 39 and flows therefrom into trough 44, from the latter through pipe 55 to the sewer or other point of discharge. While this operation of rinsing the dishes is transpiring, the rinsing water is effectively prevented by. the plate 39 and trough 44,1 rom flowing into the tank It proper, and hence, it will not disturb or admix with the washing fluid contained in the latter.

In order to washvthe dishes, either valve handle 99 or 5| or pitman 92 is raised, thus opening valve 49 and closing valve 49. Thereupon, with the motor 29 in operation, pump 24 through pipe 23, withdraws washing fluid Irom the tank I l and discharges it through p pe, ma ie sis 9 and 30, pipes 3| and 32 from which it travels in opposite directions against the dishes through the oriflces 33 and 34. The aforesaid movement of closing valve 49 and opening valve 49 moves pitman 55 which rocks crank 54 and shaft 40, acs cordingly, tilting the tray or plate 39 from the angle shown in Figure 1 to its opposite angle where it rests on the tray 35. In the latter position, plate or tray 39 catches the falling detergent and directs it through strainer 35 back into the 10 tank I I, for re-use or continuous cycling through the action of pump 24.

By reason of the described construction, I am enabled to produce a washing machine having a single tank I accommodating both rinsing and washing operations without necessitating the discard or loss or weakening of washing solution, the detergents or chemicals of which are expensive.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the inven- 20 tion as defined by appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In amachine oi. the class described, a tank to contain a washing fluid, conduit means leading from the tank including a pump to withdraw fluid from the tank and return it thereto over articles to be washed, aplate spaced above the bottom of the bank in the line of return of said fluid, means spaced above the bottom of the tank mounting said plate for tilting'to one position to direct said fluid into the tank and for oppositely tilting the plate, a drain spaced above the bottom 01' the tank to which rinsing water is directed by the plate in its last mentioned position, whereby the tank is substantially unobstructed from side to side across the bottom to increase the area which accommodates the washing fluid, the said conduit means having a connection for the supply of rinsing water through the discharge portion thereof, valve means to'cut of! the supply of rinsing waterthrough the discharge portion, valve means in said conduit between the pump and said discharge portion to prevent the passage of rinsing water to the pump, and mechanism connecting the second mentioned means and both valve means to open one valve means as the other valve means is closed and vice versa and whereby the plate is operable automatically with both valve means and vice versa.

2. In a machine oi the class described, a tank to contain a washing fluid, conduit means including a. pump to withdraw fluid from the tank and return it thereto over articles to be washed. a tiltable plate spaced above the bottom 01 the tankin the line oi return of said fluid, means for tilting said plate to direct said fluid into the tank and for oppositely tilting the plate means spaced above the bottom or the tank mounting said plate, opposite side walls of the tank spaced above the bot-' tom 01 the latter having ofl'set portions on the interior oi the latter, a trough-shaped drain engaging one oflset portion to which rinsing water is directed by the plate in its last mentioned position, a trough-shaped screen member engaging the other ofl'set portion into which washing fluid Y is directed to the tank in the other position 01 the plate, opposite edge portions or said plate in its respective positions overlapping said drain and screen member. 3. In a machine 01' the class described, a tank adapted to contain a washing fluid, means operable to pump said washing fluid into engagement with articles disposed within the tank, a pipe connected to said means through which rins 7s ing water is supplied to the articles, a trough in said tank above its base for thedischarge of rinsing water, a plate tiltably mounted in the tank in the line of discharge of the washing fluid and rinsing water to discharge washing fluid into the tank in one position and to discharge rinsing water into the trough in another position, a control valve for the first mentioned means and a control valve for said pipe, means connecting said valves so that one will be opened as the other is closed and vice versa, and a linkage connection from the last mentioned means to the plate to tilt the plate to and from its two positions through operation of said valves.

' 4. In a machine of the class described, a tank, said tank being adapted to contain a washing fluid, a strainer in said tank at one side thereof, a trough in said tank at the other side thereof for discharge purposes, a plate tiltably mounted in the tank of greater width than the distance between the strainer and trough for movementlimiting engagement with either said strainer or said trough to discharge into the same, means above the plate to support articles, means whereby to the plate to tilt the plate through operation 15 of said valves.

MATTHEW L. KELLY. 

